Does such a thing exist? (KVM related)

[geuben]

At work I've been working a lot with headless servers and as such have had to cart around a monitor, keyboard and mouse whenever the server moves around (doing development so the server doesn't stay in the same place very long).

During one such carting around session a college said he had once looked for a portable KVM device that would be easier to carry around than a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse. He said his search was unsuccessful but it was two years ago, so something might exist now.

This ideal device would be small laptop / netbook sized, comprising a keyboard, trackpad and screen (and a battery to power the screen) but no processing power as such, it would simply take a VGA input for the screen and have a usb output for keyboard and mouse.

Anybody know if such a thing exists?

Thanks.

 

[Biz.Kid09]

Just get a netbook?

 

[geuben]

Just get a netbook?

How can I use a netbook as a KVM for another machine? (without buying a separate piece of hardware, as their is a box that can do this).

 

[King Arthur]

i met with the head of avocent uk sales once (avocent been the largest kvm manufacturer in the world iirc)

I, much like you work with engineers who work with headless servers and he said that it was a good idea when i mentioned it to him and he would look into it, suffice to say he never got back to me.

i +1 the idea of it though would make life very simple for engineers

Phil

 

[imhiya]

I get what your saying, you want one peice of hardware that is a monitor, keyboard and mouse but no processor or anything.

 

[geuben]

i met with the head of avocent uk sales once (avocent been the largest kvm manufacturer in the world iirc)

I, much like you work with engineers who work with headless servers and he said that it was a good idea when i mentioned it to him and he would look into it, suffice to say he never got back to me.

i +1 the idea of it though would make life very simple for engineers

Phil

I'd imagine that lots of people in similar situations have thought it would be a good idea.

The main thing stopping me from hacking one together myself is getting a VGA input to a laptop LCD.

I get what your saying, you want one peice of hardware that is a monitor, keyboard and mouse but no processor or anything.

Yep, you got it. I personally don't need one but it would be very useful at work.

 

[MagicBoy]

They sort of exist but usually come in a 1U rackmount though

 

[geuben]

They sort of exist but usually come in a 1U rackmount though

Yeah I know about them, not particularly portable though.

 

[imhiya]

can't you tape together a small 12.1 inch monitor, small keyboard and mouse together? or put it in a laptop bag